Sustainability Footprints in SMEs: Strategy and Case Studies for Entrepreneurs and Small Business

9Moffat Golf Club: Greener Golf

9.1 Introduction

The tourism and leisure sector has been earmarked as a key area for low-carbon growth by the Scottish Government [1]. Within the tourism sector, golf tourism contributes £220 M to the Scottish economy; this represents £120M gross value added (GVA) [2]. Among the approximately 550 golf courses in Scotland [3], the Moffat Golf Club is considered “the Jewel in the South” [4]. The Moffat Golf Club was established in 1884 during the heyday of its local town Moffat [4], a Victorian tourist spa destination due to the presence of mineral springs in the area and the construction of a bath (now the site of the town hall) that was built to satisfy the needs of its visitors [5]. Work on the existing golf course began in 1904 based upon designs from Ben Sayers of North Berwick, a renowned golf practitioner [4]. Situated 670 feet above sea level on Coats Hill, this 18-hole golf course [4] is within the vicinity of an ancient Roman signal fort [6] overlooking the market town of Moffat in Dumfriesshire [7]. The design of the course incorporates all the natural undulations with expansive views of the countryside and is a great example of a traditional Scottish moorland course [4]. Infrastructure on the site consists of a clubhouse, which is a composite of an older wooden building and conservatory with a flat-roofed extension of brick construction to provide improved amenities. The amenities within the clubhouse include a bar, dining room area, ...